Zebra dwarf sucker

Otocinclus cocama

Also known as zebra oto

FreshwaterFish

Zebra dwarf sucker (Otocinclus cocama) — Frank M. Greco · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 70–77°F (21–25°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 1.8 in (4.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 11 gal (40 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Origin: Peru
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

This is a peaceful, shy bottom-dweller that should be kept in a group of six or more to feel secure. It spends its day rasping algae off glass, wood, and leaves. Because tank algae runs out fast, supplement with algae wafers, blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach, and biofilm. It is too small and gentle for boisterous tankmates, so pair it with calm community fish.

In the wild

The zebra oto comes from clear, flowing streams in the Peruvian Amazon, where it clings to wood, rock, and plant leaves grazing algae. It wants soft, neutral to slightly acidic water, pH 6 to 7.5, and a temperature in the low to mid 20s C. Set up a mature, well-oxygenated tank with surfaces that grow a film of algae, since that is its main food and bare new tanks will starve it.

Good to know

It is a small suckermouth catfish in the family Loricariidae, reaching only about 4.5 cm, with a black-and-white pattern that sets it apart from plainer otos. It uses its mouth to hold onto surfaces and rasp off biofilm. Breeding in aquariums is rarely recorded, and most fish in the trade are wild-caught.

Did you know

Its bold zebra striping made it a sought-after aquarium oto, but the pattern faded for years in shipments due to confusion and look-alikes, so true Otocinclus cocama can fetch a premium over the common olive-colored species.